Gettysburg Daily

Gettysburg First Day Fencing: Friends Volunteer Workday Part 2

June 5, 2011

The monument to the 14th Brooklyn is on the left, with the “Railroad Cut” just visible in the right background. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

As part of their Volunteer Workday, members of the Friends of Gettysburg erected fencing along the first day’s battlefield on Saturday. We were there to take some pictures as they worked, which we’ll show you today.

The right flank marker to the 76th New York is in the right foreground. This view was taken facing east at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

Volunteers worked tirelessly to erect the fencing. Sheads’ Woods is in the background. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

This view was taken facing east at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

This view was facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

This view was taken facing west at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

We’ve now moved to the rear of the statue to Brigadier General James Wadsworth. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

One of our readers emailed us after our posting yesterday to ask us about what sources corroborate fencing along the railroad cut, as has been placed by the Friends here on both the north and south side of the cut. This view was taken facing north at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

The partially built worm fence along the railroad cut. This view was taken facing east at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

We are concerned about the primary source evidence that a worm fence was on either side of the railroad cut in July, 1863. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

We don’t remember the 6th Wisconsin having to jump over or run through these fences along the railroad cut.Â This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.

Worm fencing has also been placed bordering the Thompson orchard adjacent to the swale between Seminary and McPherson’s Ridge. The post and rail fencing that existed on the Chambersburg Pike when the 6th Wisconsin (monument just visible in bottom of frame) made their charge on July 1 has not been reconstructed. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4, 2011.